We describe 9 patients with a novel variant of lymphomatoid papulosis characterized by prominent localization of the infiltrate around the eccrine coil, resulting in nodular expansion of the coil accompanied by variable granulomatous inflammation. Light microscopy, immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies to CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8, and CD30 in 6 cases, and polymerase chain reaction--single-stranded conformational polymorphism analysis for T-cell receptor gamma chain gene rearrangement in 5 cases revealed 2 cytomorphologic patterns (large cell dominant with polymorphous inflammation, small cell lymphocyte--rich with an inconspicuous large cell component [phenotypes, CD30+/CD3+/CD4+/CD7-for large atypical cells; reactive for small lymphocytes]) and clonal restriction in 4 and polyclonality in 1 of the lymphocyte-dominant cases. During an average 6-year follow-up, no lymphomas developed. Recognition of this variant is important--accentuation of the infiltrate around the eccrine coil and cutaneous nerves, presence of granulomatous inflammation, dominance of small lymphocytes in the dermis, and variable extension into the panniculus may lead to diagnostic confusion with entities such as discoid lupus erythematosus, Jessner lymphocytic infiltrate of skin, subcutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and persistent arthropod bite reaction. Our findings suggest that pruritus, a younger age at diagnosis, and a more indolent course are defining clinical features.
